Electricity from floating nuclear power plant!

_Monitor Online Desk 16 Sep, 2019 | 2112 Views|-+

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Akademik Lomonosov, world’s first floating nuclear power unit has reached its permanent destination- the Pevek town in Chukotka region of Russia’s Far East yesterday, September 14,2019. The floating plant is being docked here to start operations by the end of the current year. Once commissioned, it will become the world’s first operational nuclear power plant based on small Modular Reactors (SMRs) technology; and a ‘working prototype’ for reliable source of low-carbon energy supply in remote areas. The plant is an initiative of Russia’s state atomic energy corporation-Rosatom.

“It’s maybe one small step for sustainable development in the Arctic, but it’s a giant leap for the decarbonisation of remote off-grid areas, and a watershed in the development of small modular nuclear power plants in the world”, said Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev. Akademik Lomonosov, world’s first floating nuclear power unit has reached its permanent destination- the Pevek town in Chukotka region of Russia’s Far East yesterday, September 14,2019. The floating plant is being docked here to start operations by the end of the current year. Once commissioned, it will become the world’s first operational nuclear power plant based on small Modular Reactors (SMRs) technology; and a ‘working prototype’ for reliable source of low-carbon energy supply in remote areas. The plant is an initiative of Russia’s state atomic energy corporation-Rosatom. “It’s maybe one small step for sustainable development in the Arctic, but it’s a giant leap for the decarbonisation of remote off-grid areas, and a watershed in the development of small modular nuclear power plants in the world”, said Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev. Talking to The Bangladesh Monitor Prof. Shafiqul Islam Bhuiyan, Former Chairman of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Corporation and a renowned international nuclear energy expert said, “It is a turning point in industrial production of small and modular reactors and a revolution in the global nuclear industry. People of the remote and inaccessible areas will be greatly benefitted from use of this technology”. The project has also been welcomed by many scientists, nuclear energy experts and environmentalists across the world. Commenting on the occasion Agneta Rising, Director General of the World Nuclear Association, said, “To meet the nuclear industry’s harmony goal of supplying at least 25% of the world’s electricity by 2050 we will need to bring the benefits of nuclear energy to more people in a wider range of locations. The Akademik Lomonosov is the first of a new class of small, mobile and versatile nuclear power plant that will supply clean and reliable electricity, heat and water to help meet the UN’s sustainable development goals.” Akademik Lomonosov is a pilot project and a ‘working prototype’ for a future fleet of floating nuclear power plants and on-shore installations based on Russia-made small modular reactors. The small power units will be available for deployment to hard-to-reach areas of the Russia’s north and Far-East, as well as for export. The total cost of the Pevek installation will not be disclosed until the project is complete but Rosatom’s spokesman said, “the technology is very competitive. Once we begin manufacture in series, SMR-based plants for remote areas have a good chance to produce electricity at a cheaper cost than diesel, saving money and preventing harmful emissions.”The project has also been welcomed by many scientists, nuclear energy experts and environmentalists across the world.

Commenting on the occasion Agneta Rising, Director General of the World Nuclear Association, said, “To meet the nuclear industry’s harmony goal of supplying at least 25% of the world’s electricity by 2050 we will need to bring the benefits of nuclear energy to more people in a wider range of locations. The Akademik Lomonosov is the first of a new class of small, mobile and versatile nuclear power plant that will supply clean and reliable electricity, heat and water to help meet the UN’s sustainable development goals.”

Akademik Lomonosov is a pilot project and a ‘working prototype’ for a future fleet of floating nuclear power plants and on-shore installations based on Russia-made small modular reactors. The small power units will be available for deployment to hard-to-reach areas of the Russia’s north and Far-East, as well as for export.

The total cost of the Pevek installation will not be disclosed until the project is complete but Rosatom’s spokesman said, “the technology is very competitive. Once we begin manufacture in series, SMR-based plants for remote areas have a good chance to produce electricity at a cheaper cost than diesel, saving money and preventing harmful emissions.”